Your baby will be spending a lot of time in their baby bed. It’s essential to ensure that your baby’s crib and bedding are right for them before deciding on a final purchase. There are thousands of different cribs, mattresses and bedding to choose from for your baby’s needs, so it can be confusing to decide on what to buy. However, this helpful guide can provide you with the information that you’ll need to choose a baby bed and bedding.

How to Choose a Crib

Let’s start off with safety concerns as there are several hazards that a baby bed could present. The first thing to keep in mind is the space between the bars. There should no more than two inches of space between the bars to ensure that the baby does not get their head stuck in the slats. Baby beds with loose or missing bars should be avoided.

Be on the lookout for any sharp edges, broken pieces or other sharp or pointy parts as these can injure your child if they touch them.

The drop-down side of the baby bed should have secure locks on them that a baby would not be able to undo. Two separate locks should be installed on the drop-side to avoid accidental unlocking. Also, foot latches are great for baby beds as they are basically impossible for a child to activate from the inside.

The height of the crib’s sides should also be about 26 inches high and they should not be climbable. This is to prevent the baby from climbing out of their bed and potentially hurting themselves.

Space is a nice factor to consider when buying a baby bed. Larger beds provide more room to spread out, allow for less clutter around the baby while sleeping and allow your child to stay in the crib easier as they get older. However, larger beds also take up more space. This can easily make the baby’s room seem crowded and difficult to maneuver in.

Fancy designs are nice, but the designs shouldn’t be cut out of the material as these can create jagged edges and holes.

Remember, price isn’t everything. Just because a crib is more expensive doesn’t mean it’s better. The goal is to look for quality and safety.

Selecting a Baby Bed Mattress

Selecting the mattress seems more straightforward, but there are also several things to consider in this areas.

Size is the first factor to keep in mind. The mattress should be bought after the bed has been bought or at least chosen to ensure that the mattress can fit in it securely. A mattress that is too small may create gaps that the baby can roll into and get trapped in. Mattresses that are too big won’t fit in the bed correctly, and they may create enough of a boost to allow toddlers to climb out of the bed.

Type of mattress is also important. Foam mattresses are very light and they’re also very affordable. However, they can easily be uncomfortable based on their density. Good foam mattresses should have a density of about 1.5 pounds per cubic foot of material to give your baby a firm bed to rest on.

Inner spring mattresses give more support and are more durable than foam mattresses, but they are usually more expensive. Springs may also pop up through the fabric if they break, which could create a safety hazard.

Selecting the Right Baby Bedding Sets

Infant bedding sets some in many different sizes, designs, types and more. Anything from designer infant bedding to discount infant bedding is out there, but there are also several factors to keep in mind when shopping for baby bedding.

Many modern baby bedding sets are made of completely organic materials. While this may not be a huge factor for some people, many people like to take this into consideration as chemical based products could be linked to infant sicknesses.

Pillows should actually be avoided entirely. While it may seem nice to include a pillow for your baby, a baby should sleep while completely horizontal. Pillows also hold a potential suffocation risk, and they restrict a baby’s movements while sleeping. If you decide to buy any pillows for your child, keep them out of the crib. Wait until they’re old enough for an actual bed to let them use a pillow.

Sheets should be tight-fitting, but easy to put on the mattress. It should only take one person a short amount of time to put the sheet on the mattress. The sheet should be tight-fitting enough to avoid wrinkles that the baby may get caught up in while sleeping. You should also buy several sheets at once. This allows you to have fresh sheets available at all times. This is especially vital if your baby tends get the bed wet.

Your baby only needs one blanket for their bed. It should be a very simple blanket with no frills, lace or anything dangling from it that may present a choking hazard. If it is particularly cold, turn up the heat in the room or dress the baby in warmer clothes and layers.

Custom baby bedding can also be made if you don’t find anything that you like in stores. You can mix and max some pre-made bedding options to make the perfect bedding set for your child, or you can make it custom from the ground up.

Tips for Choosing Baby Bedding

Comfort is a key aspect to keep in mind. Bedding needs to be comfortable in order for the baby to sleep soundly. Ensure that the fabric is smooth, soft and not itchy or abrasive.

Durability is also important. The bedding will inevitably get tugged on, stained and washed many more times than normal laundry. You’ll need bedding that can stand up to that without falling apart.

Finally, you should pay attention to the brand name. While brand doesn’t mean everything, some companies simply make better quality products than others. Research the various companies within the baby bedding world to get a good idea of who seems to have the best products. Don’t avoid a product just because it’s from someone you’ve never heard of before. Proper research can get your the best quality for the best prices.